Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-09-22
GENIUS AND STUDENT.

The old man said: zone must not
abandon oneself to whimsical desires"
There is a story which well illustrates this
saying.
Once upon a time there lived in China a
man of great learning and much talent.
But cupidity, vice which brought his
learning to be Of little worth, had so per-
verted his heart that he came at last to
lose even the house he lived in.
Finding himself ruined and without re-
sources Of any kind. he abandoned the So
ciety of men. and, wandering at random,
found his way into q wilderness of noun
tains capped with white clouds. There
he sat dcwn upon a rock, folded his arms
and began to commune With himself in
great perplexity as to what he should do
He was on the point of yielding to de-
spair. when An old white haired man, clad
in a garment made of the leaves of trees,
approached him noiselessly As a ghost.
This old man, after looking at him very
hard for long time, said:
Long ago used to be a school comrads
of yours"
Then as the other Frustrated himself +.
his feet the old man continued, with Q
severe look:
Long ago you used to study, just as
did the essence Of the moral law.
But your heart, which by nature is not
wholly upright, became totally perverted
by covetousness; therefore you now suffer,
even in this world, and you have even lost
your house.
.'On the other hand, purified my heart
from the covetous desires Of this world;
and by diligently practicing the essence OF
the law i became great genius, having
to depend upon no one, and possessing su-
pernatural power. Nothing can now op-
pose my will.
.sNow YOU also must endeavor to change
your heart and free yourself from desires
by turning your thoughts 10 that which is
good"
When the student heard that the genius
had acquired supernatural powers which
he could dispose Of as he pleased, he be-
gan TO shed hypocritica tears And he
cried out:
Even as my lord says have suffered
in this world because my talents We're not
equal to the qualification of my desires;
and this has brought me to such a condi-
ton that now suffer with hunger and
with thirst.
II beg of you. kind genius, to rernem
her the frien,'ship which drew us together
Of old. and t.| in for me little rice by
the exercise sour supernatural power.
For such f!s Or shall be grateful to you
as long As l live" And he Frustrated
himself at the feet Of the genius.
The genius laughed heartily at this, and
SAID TO the student: You are now like a
flint in an oven. and you are suffering SO
because your heart is full OF envy. Still,
as it is easy for me to obtain you some rice
by exercise of my supernatural faculties,
will grant your wish"
Lifting his index finger he cried ont:
.'Ha- -mu," and Immediately a multitude
Of sacks of rice rose out of the ground, to
the number OF four or five thousand
Then. turning to the student, he said to
him:
In the enormous quantity Of rice I
have now provided you with, you have
more than enough to support you for the
rest of your life As the proverb says,
He who has riches enough never wishes
for anything suppose you will under
stand that you have now sufficient for all
your necessities, and that you should at
once endeavor to banish all covetousness
from your heart. Certainly the need Il
nourishment is the greatest OF all neces-
sites"
j ne stuueut eAudusttu IuIustli Ill cA-
pressions of gratitude and bows of thanks.
'Your Kindness" he cried, has indeed
more than fulfilled all the desires of my
Gfe-yet have one little thing more to
ask from you. II you grant my request
will prostrate myself before your further
Generosities."
The genius answered in irritation: 'Ts
your heart, then. absolutely Unsuitable |!
tor Il blx-h hox
than that which l have already salts
fiedr'
The student. in a respectful voice. re-
piled: at is true that by your help have
been placed in possession Of a quantity Of
rice more than sufficient for my needs;
but if / have no storehouse to keep it in
what am to do with it, If you would
only be so kind as to get me q storehouse
by the same means!'
'Ah!" cried the genius; show violent
are the desires Of this man! Why could
you not build yourself storehouse by
selling some of this rice-so much at a
time, Nevertheless. eXtravagant as your
request is, since began to try to satisfy
you, shall endeavor to continue. Ha-
mu"' he cried again, lifting his finger.
Immediately a multitude Of storehouses
appeared, and when all the bags Of rice
had been slowed away in them the genius
| said: ''Oh, man Of many desires, trust
that you are now satisfied"
'Yes, indeed!' exclaimed the student
in his joy; ''in giving me these splendid
storehouses you have indeed done all for
me that could wish. Truly your good
ness has no limits, and MY soul is filled
with gratitude-still-let me ask-could
you not listen n moment, have a little
| reques. SO make."
Then, stricken with astonishment, the
genius said: What more can you possi-
bly, want.'
The student answered: ''Of course I
know that all this rice and these store
houses are admirable: but some sort Of q
place to live in l must have-without a
dwelling my position would be altogether
false. Does it not occur to you that peo-
pie, on seeing you had furnished me with
storehouses and no lodging, would say that
the great genius was neglectfuls 1t would
really pain me great deal 10 hear any one
speak ill of SO great q sage as you are.
just leave the question to your own high
lntelligencer'
Then said the genius: "Ocoretous and
shameless man, great a rascal as you are,
feel that must now give way to your
desires. even as ship whose destiny has
been intrusted to the high seas''
And as he once more lifted his finger and
cried: "Ia-muH' there arose, on a sud
den, rows Of lordly mansions-palaces
worthy of the mikadO-whose roofs COW
cred with Ornamentation, all stretched
away in one level and luminous line
''Oh, thanks" cried the student, bow
ing his head nine times to the ground.
"At your command seas Of rice and streets
Of storehouses have come to me, aud now,
Indeed, dwellings also are given unto me.
Assuredly. no man could wish for any
thing more.
And yet, as thoughts pass through my
sInd, l cannot help fearing that people
will laugh at the stupidity of q man who
iwells in splendid mansions and Possesses
nul'itudinous warehouses, and yet never
has cent in his pocket; yea, they will not
simply laugh at the man who hides his
pOyerty under a merely exterior wealth